A teenage girl was seriously hurt early Monday morning while crossing the road in the crosswalk after being hit by a car in a hit and run accident.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, 20-year-old Joseph Darezzo of Palm Harbor was driving westbound on Pine Ridge Boulevard at 6:40 a.m. Monday and was behind another car. While going around that car, Darezzo hit 15-year-old Joseline Martinez of Palm Harbor, who was in the crosswalk crossing the road at East Lake Road.
Martinez suffered serious injuries and was transported to Bayfront Medical Center while Darezzo was not hurt. After the crash, Darezzo fled the scene but returned an hour later, according to FHP.
He was then arrested for fleeing the scene of a crash with injuries and was ticketed with an improper turn.